Fly Fishing The Calawah River WashingtonThe Calawah River is a 31 mile long tributary of the Bogachiel River on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. Its headwaters, the North and South Forks of the Calawah River, flows from the virgin forest of the foothills of the Olympic Mountains. Fly fishing the Calawahy River produces anglers a good opportunity to catch a very nice size steelhead. Its water is crystal clear and fast. This is a high-gradient stream with great pocket water for nymphing. It also has plenty of water where swinging a fly works well.

The Calawah River will challenge anyone's rowing skills to the utmost. It really consist of three different sections - its upper North and South Forks, the upper section of the main stem from the confluence of the North and South Forks to the highway #101 bridge, and the lower section from the bridge to the Calawah's confluence with the Bogachiel River. The upper section of the main stem is considered moderate to difficult. The lower section is dangerous. We suggest first floating it with an experienced guide.

Anglers can fish from the banks on the lower section of the Calawah River by walking back of the Bogachiel ponds to the river. You can also access the river from La Push road at the Tall Timbers access. The lower two miles of the river can be crowded with anglers fishing from the bank but but once the hatchery run slows down, the crowds thin out.

Winter steelhead hatchery runs will stay strong through early January but slow down in February. The best opportunity for a shot at a big twenty pound wild steelhead is from late January through early March.

The Calawah River is open for fall salmon from highway # 101 downstream. Winter steelhead fishing from the forks downstream to highway #101 has special regulations that are different from those below highway #101. The upper section is open for winter steelhead fishing from the National Park Boundary to the forks until February 28, also with special regulations.

Seasons:Varies with species and area of the river - make sure you see the current special regulationsSpring:March and mid-April, Chinook salmon begin to show up.Winter steelhead are still in the river until well into April.Summer:Summer steelhead run from June through SeptemberFall:Salmon fishing starts about the second week of Octoberwhen the river levels start rising from the Fall rains.Steelhead fishing begins about mid November.Winter:January to April is the best winter steelhead fishing time.

Calawah River Fishing Report:11/09/13 Anglers reporting Coho fishing waning down. Steelhead haven't appeared yet but will by the end of the month. Fish should be ranging from the lower stretches of the river to the hatchery on the Bogachiel,

02/22/14 I guess the recent lack of rain caused the ground to swallow the rain and high water level much faster than expected. Plenty of fish are in the river but it has already fell back down to a low level.

03/01/14 The Calawah is in the best shape it has been in this year, with good levels and plenty of fish. This may change fast. There is rain in the forecast every day for the next week. .

03/08/14 Currently running very high and unfishable.

03/15/14 The Calawah River fishes best when the water first drops and clears up so stay tuned.

03/22/14 The stream is in good shape but we don't have any fishing reports from it.

03/29/14 The river is high and rising with rain in the forecast every day for the next week.

04/05/14 The big problem has been the high water levels. The very few days anglers could fish, there were a few fish taken but only a few.

Options For Selecting Flies:1. Email us (sales@perfectflystore.com)with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response.

2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need.

3. Email us (sales@perfectflystore.com)with a budget for flies and we will select them to match the budget and get them to you in time for your fly fishing trip.

All orders are shipped free in theU. S. Orders over $100 are shipped via Priority Mail.

04/26/14 Waiting on the summer hatchery fish. No reports of any steelehead caught for the past two weeks.

05/17/14 The fishing season is closed and reopens the first Saturday in June. We will resume our report then.

06/07/14 Season is now open. Don't expect much until the end of the month when some steelhead begin moving in.

06/14/14 Low water conditions but trout fishing should be good. No reports from anglers fishing last week. No reports for summer steelhead.

07/27/14 Fishing for all species is very slow.

08/10/14 A few sea run cutts have moved into the river but the fishing has been very slow. Rain is needed to move more fish into the river.

08/16/14 Still need more rain. According to our local contact, some steelhead and a few sea-run cutts are being caught. We had some anglers ordering flies for the cutts, which should get better later in the monthy.

08/30/14 Steelhead fishing is still lousy but the weather is cooling off some. Low water conditions are also hurting. Some resident trout are being caught.

09/27/14 A very few sea-runs being caught. We will resume this report when the season gets underway.

10/11/14 Some sea-runs are being caught and Coho and Steelhead should be moving into the river as it is currently raining and should continue for the next few days.

10/18/14 It is raining and more is forecast every day for the next week. Fishing will improve but check the levels - Steelhead, coho, sea run cutts.

11/08/14 No steelhead yet, but some Coho are being caught by fly anglers.

12/14/14 More good "catching" reports from anglers playing with the hatchery steelhead.

12/20/14 Lots of hatchery steelhead being caught by our customers. Conditions have been good.

12/27/14 No reports from the past week. Conditions remain good.

01/10/15 Anglers are catching plenty of hatchery steelhead. Good conditions still exist at this time.

01/17/15 One report of a winter winter steelhead from a loyal customer and that's it.

01/24/15 Two reports of winter steelhead caught this past week. It is getting better.

02/07/15 A couple more good reports came in about a week ago but the river is high and not fishable at this time.

02/21/15 The river has produced some steelhead for the past two weeks since falling out. Our customers are reporting out Perfect Fly steelehead nymphs are working best.

03/07/15 The action has slowed. You must use small, light color steelhead nymphs untill the levels come back up some.

03/28/15 The past two weeks have produced a few good days and a few wild fish but altogether it has been slow.

04/11/15 There have been a few fish caught but all together, very slow.

05/23/15 Send us an email and let us help you plan your next trip.

06/13/15 Look for summer run steelhead to arrive within the next two weeks if not sooner.

06/27/15 Summer runs are showing up in decent numbers. Two reports from customers.

07/11/15 Not exactly a destination stream during the summer but the locals are well aware of the summer steelhead in the river at this time.

08/08/15 Rain is likely today and the first of next week. That should bring sea run cuthroat in the river and improve the conditions BUT Closed to fishing at this time.

08/29/15 It is still closed by hopefully, rain and cooler weather will change this soon. These conditions should bring fish into the river.

09/05/15 The lower Calawah River is open to fishing thanks to the better water conditions the rain and cooler weather brought.

09/12/15 Some steelhead and coho being caught but not many. Cooler weather and rain expected this next week should help.

09/26/15 Open in state waters. Hatchery steelhead are in the river. Few anglers are fishing.

10/10/15 One report of a few summer runs caught near the hatchery. Overall, it is slow.

10/24/15 Conditions remain about the same or worse. Low and clear water but hopefully, that will change. There is a chance of rain every day this coming week.

10/31/15 The rains came and the stream levels are still up with more fish in the river. Conditions should be much better very soon.

11/14/15 Coho fishing has been good when the levels were okay but about finished. It won't be long before the winter steelhead begin to show.

11/28/15 There is a lot of rain in the forecast next week. That could bring some hatchery fish into the river.

12/05/15 Reports are a few hatchery steelhead have been caught in the lower river near the Bogachief.

12/26/15 About the time the hatchery run started, the rain started. Yes, it brought the fish in but many returned to the hatchery under the cover of the high water. It is just now getting back down low enough to fish.

11/13/17 The river is very high but should be good when it drops low enough to fish.

12/18/17 Hatchery steelhead are being caught in good numbers. Swinging, nymphing and egg flies are workin.

01/15/18 Hatchery steelhead are still being caught. This should continue through the month.

07/24/18 There are hatchery steelhead showing up and being caught. Send us an email for a fly list: sales@perfectflystore.com

08/07/18 More good reports of steelhead being caught. Conditions are good.

10/14/18 Sea run cutts are being caught. Steelhead and salmon haven't show up yet but will as soon as it starts raining and the levels come up. Send us an email for a list of flies. sales@perfectflystore.com

12/29/18 There are still some hatchery steelhead opportunity. Stream levels are up some.

01/13/19 Hatchery steelhead are still being caught in the lower river in decent numbers. swinging,and steelhead nymphs are working good.

01/27/19 The river has been high but back down near normal and this should be a very good week.

04/20/19 Sorry for the missed reports. The season ends April 30th. The action is currenly slow.